Sit/Start Week 5: Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, October 8th, 1:00 PM ET

Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Betting Odds: Even, O/U 42.5 via OddsShark

Network: CBS

Writer: Nick Beaudoin

Tennessee Titans

Quarterback

Ryan Tannehill (Start, Low-QB2)

Ryan Tannehill is coming off one of his best performances of the season, upsetting the Bengals 27-3 and finishing the week as QB20. Although this had to be encouraging for the Titans, it was a far better real-life performance than a fantasy effort. It is no accident that Tannehill’s play improves when Derrick Henry is dominating the run game, and there was a direct correlation to this last week. Henry was a force, allowing Tannehill to feed off play-action going 18-for-25 for 240 yards passing with one touchdown, one interception, and 11 yards on the ground. The Colts’ secondary isn’t necessarily one to shy away from, but Tannehill is merely a game manager at this point in his career, and with two finishes in the QB3 range this season, his ceiling and floor are both too low to be considered in 1QB leagues. With a team-implied point total of 20, we can expect the Titans to get back to the ground game in a low-scoring battle for the division in Week 5.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry (Start, RB1), Tyjae Spears (Sit)

Derrick Henry looked like Derrick Henry of old against the Bengals last week, taking 22 carries for 122 yards and one touchdown. He added one reception for 11 yards and the fourth passing touchdown of his career. Although the Colts have one of the best interior duos in the league with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, their lack of depth and EDGE defenders has left them vulnerable against the run this season, allowing two RB1 performances through the first four weeks, including 103 yards, two touchdowns and an RB3 finish to Kyren Williams last week (this stat does not include Lamar Jackson’s 101 yards on the ground in Week 3). If Henry and the Titans’ can continue to build on last week, we can expect 15-20 touches and an RB1 finish against the Colts.

Tyjae Spears has been quietly eating into Henry’s snap count, reaching an almost 50/50 split through the first four weeks. Spears has not had the early season success that Henry has, but he has made splash plays in both the rushing and receiving games. Taken in the third round of this year’s draft, Spears is clearly the future of the team and maybe the Titans’ starting RB as soon as next season. For now, he is a high-value handcuff and low-ceiling FLEX option but possesses league-winning upside if something were to happen to Henry. Go buy Spears before it is too late.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

DeAndre Hopkins (Start, WR3 / FLEX), Treylon Burks (Sit, FLEX), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Sit), Chigoziem Okonkwo (Sit)

DeAndre Hopkins may not be the dominant player he once was, but he is still a talented possession receiver. Through the first four weeks, he has earned an elite 29.3% target share but has played only 65% of the Titans’ snaps, accounting for a mere 18 receptions and 216 scoreless yards. The Colts’ secondary is allowing the eighth-most points to WRs per game, which is a good sign for Titans’ receivers, but in a run-first offense and projected low-scoring game, Hopkins will be a volume-based FLEX option with WR3 upside if Treylon Burks is unavailable.

The Dynasty community is all patiently and collectively waiting on the Treylon Burks breakout. It certainly hasn’t happened so far this season, but to be fair, the entire Titans’ offense has looked miserable until recently. Burks missed Week 4 with a knee injury and did not practice Wednesday, meaning his status should be monitored throughout this week as well. When on the field, he has surpassed Hopkins with a 77% snap percentage; however, he is earning just a 16.1% target share in that time. Burks is a first-round talent and worth a stash on your roster, but with just 99 yards receiving through the first three weeks, he is no more than a FLEX this week if he’s available.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine played one of the best games of his career last week against the Bengals. With Burks out, he stepped up in a big way, reeling in five passes on six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown. He was able to stretch the field consistently, as well as find space in the middle of the field on Tannehill’s play-action passes. If Burks is healthy, Westbrook-Ikhine will likely be relegated back to WR3 status on this team. If Burks is out again, he is worthy of FLEX consideration against a struggling Colts’ secondary.

Last season’s Dynasty hero Chigoziem Okonkwo has been a letdown through the first four weeks, entering Week 5 as TE35. Chig’s upside could be tremendous if the Titans can pull it together, but with 71 scoreless yards on the season, it is best to look for upside elsewhere.

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterbacks

Anthony Richardson (Start, QB1)

The fourth-overall pick in this year’s draft was arguably the most polarizing QB prospect of all time but has already proven he may be special. Despite missing Week 3, he enters Week 5 as QB15 on the season, averaging 23.1 points/game. There were many question marks around Richardson entering the NFL, but if you took the late-round flyer on him, you have already been rewarded with all of the upside, and a new record of (at least) one rushing touchdown in each of his first three starts. The Titans have a tremendous defensive-minded HC in Mike Vrabel, as well as one of the most imposing defensive lines in the league, which may present a new challenge for Richardson. However, despite stifling the Bengals last week, the Titans have allowed finishes of QB10 (Deshaun Watson), QB14 (Derek Carr), and QB11 (Justin Herbert) in the three weeks before that. Richardson will need to learn how to avoid contact and develop as a passer to survive in the NFL, but for fantasy purposes, you can start him each and every week as a QB1.

Running Backs

Jonathon Taylor (Sit, FLEX), Zack Moss (Sit, FLEX)

Jonathon Taylor is.. back? One can only hope. After missing the first four games on the PUP, Jonathon Taylor was listed as a “full” participant in the Colts practice on Wednesday. Taylor is undoubtedly one of the league’s premier backs, but this “hold-out” situation feels far from over and will be a difficult start in his first game back against a dominant Titans’ defensive line. Taylor’s ceiling is sky-high any given week – but coming off an injury, with an uncertain snap share, against the fifth-best defense to opposing RBs – his floor is also alarmingly low. Keep monitoring Taylor’s status throughout the week, but if he plays, he will likely have the widest range of outcomes of any options on the slate this week.

After a disappointing few years in Buffalo, Zack Moss has seemingly found a home in Indianapolis, dominating the backfield with an 84% snap percentage and coming in as the RB8 since he became active in Week 2. Moss’s situation has become as clear as mud this week with Taylor’s potential return, but we’ll hopefully get clarity within the next few days. If Taylor remains out, Moss will continue dominating the backfield, but as a low-ceiling, volume-based RB2 in a tough matchup. If Taylor is active, he becomes a very risky FLEX option in a likely backfield split.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Michael Pittman (Start, WR2), Josh Downs (Start, FLEX), Alec Pierce (Sit), Kylen Gransen (Sit, TE2), Mo-Alie Cox (Sit), Andrew Ogletree (Sit)

Coming off a rough week with just 15 yards receiving against the Rams, Michael Pittman still enters Week 5 as WR19 on the season. Despite many analysts being skeptical about how this team will look with Richardson under center, Pittman has continued to prove that he is an alpha, playing an astounding 98% of snaps with an elite 28.7% target share. The Titans’ secondary comes in 26th to opposing WRs so far this season, so look for Pittman to bounce back this week, and start him with confidence as your WR2.

Third-round rookie Josh Downs has already taken over the WR2 role in the Colts’ offense, earning a 19.9% target share through his first four NFL games. As much as I like Pittman this week, Downs may play a pivotal role if the Titans’ defensive line is able to stop the run game and put pressure on Richardson. As the slot WR with a much lower aDOT, look for HC Shane Steichen to get Downs involved with short-yardage work and screen passes, allowing him to create yards after the catch. Downs has sneaky FLEX appeal this week due to volume, but a low-ceiling with zero touchdowns on the season.

Alec Pierce has been on the field for 95% of snaps this season but is mostly running wind sprints as he averages 3.5 targets/game so far. Pierce showed promise last year, but this new coaching staff and QB seem to value Pittman and Downs much higher at this point in time. Pierce can remain on waivers or deep-league benches for the time being.

Oh, the Colts and their TE mind games. Entering Week 5 as TE20, Kylen Gransen has been the “starter” so far this season, with a 58% snap share over Mo-Alie Cox (36%) and Andrew Ogletree (32%) – however, it was both of the “backups” with red zone touchdowns and top-13 finishes last week against the Rams. The Titans enter the week as fifth-best against TEs, so this feels like a situation to avoid entirely.

– Nick Beaudoin